Witness: I never told Bailey there was a cell for him

An important witness in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation was never assured by gardai she would not have to go to court: that would be “ridiculous”, a retired garda detective superintendent told the High Court.

Ted Murphy was attached to the special investigations unit at Garda HQ in Dublin when seconded to the murder investigation in December 1996. He said he decided in May 1997 it was time for Marie Farrell to “put up or shut up”.

Ms Farrell had said she was with a male companion when she allegedly saw a man at Kealfada Bridge near Schull on the night of December 22/23, 1996, hours before Ms du Plantier’s body was found, and it was important to get corroboration of this from her companion, he said.